Get the latest Science News and Discoveries

Plants’ secret second roots rewrite the climate playbook

Beneath the forest floor lies an overlooked secret: many plants grow a second set of roots far deeper than expected sometimes over three feet down tapping into hidden nutrient stores and potentially locking away carbon. A new study using deep-soil data from NEON reveals that these "bimodal" rooting systems are more common than previously believed and may play a powerful role in stabilizing ecosystems and fighting climate change.

None

Get the Android app